Six Tips for a Greener Sex Life

Lower your carbon footprint with your legs in the air.

By Stefanie Iris Weiss

In the next few decades, sex won't even be an option if you're busy dodging climate-change-induced hurricanes, tsunamis, floods, droughts, and other scourges of the earth. A greener sex life starts with personal choices, but there are some pretty nice side benefits too — and not just for Greenpeace's sake. Use the following tips to get more sustainable satisfaction.

1) Avoid Babies

The number-one tip for a greener sex life? Use birth control. Even if you forego the rest of these tips, don't forget to wrap it up, snip it, or otherwise block those swimmers from doing what they aim to do. 129 million babies are born every year, and 76 million of these are from unintended pregnancies. 18 billion diapers are sold every year, and 90 percent end up in landfills. So you can screw in compact florescent bulbs 'til the organic cows come home, but if you forget contraception, you might as well take daily flights from New York to L.A. in your private jet while slurping down endangered-shark-fin soup. Your carbon legacy is a scary thing to contemplate: every child you have adds 9,441 metric tons of carbon dioxide to the planet. So consider adopting, having one fewer child, or not having children at all.

Looking for the greenest birth-control option? The planet-friendly I.U.D. has gotten a bad rap for the wrong reasons, while the Pill continues to gender-bend our fish and harm our bodies. Avoid polyurethane condoms at all costs: if you're not allergic, natural latex is the way to go. Try French Letter Fair Trade condoms or Glyde vegan condoms. And remember not to flush your used rubbers!

2) Give the Gift of Eco-Bling

If you're taking your relationship up a notch and believe that expensive gifts are in order, think before you head for the diamond district. Post-Blood Diamond, the gem industry has claimed major reform with the U.N.-sanctioned Kimberly Process. But this issue has not gone away. It remains nearly impossible to find a truly conflict-free diamond. And there's dirty gold to contend with as well. If you must drape some bling around the throat of your intended, there are plenty of alternative options to the standard ring-finger rock. Buy recycled or secondhand gold, and remember that vintage and costume jewelry also win major points. Rely on organizations like nodirtygold.org, greenkarat.com, communitymining.org and earthworksaction.org for up-to-date info.

3) Wear Sustainable Skivvies

Face it: if you think there's even a minor chance of someone getting in your pants, you usually wear your best Saturday-night bloomers. Bring the whole plan up a notch by slipping on sustainable underthings. Go for organic cotton or hemp made with vegetable color dyes. Check out Urban Fox, Eco-Boudoir, or Yves Behar's Pact underwear.

4) Lube Up Organically

When it comes to lube, be sure to employ the "Would I eat it?" test. If you wouldn't put it in your mouth, don't put it into any other orifice (or even on your skin). Opt for certified organic, chemical-free formulations. Avoid parabens and glycerin, a ubiquitous ingredient in conventional lubes that can actually increase your chances of contracting an STD. Coming on the market soon: Intimate Ecology, a revolutionary line of certified organic, therapeutic personal lubricants that contain immune-boosting probotics.

5) Ensure Your Vibes Are Good

If your favorite vibrator is aging, recycle it and get yourself a green-spanking new one. If your vibe was manufactured prior to 2005, it's probably full of phthalates — toxic, carcinogenic plasticizers used to make hard plastic soft. This is the last thing you want anywhere near your warm, moist nether regions. Buy only from trusted sources like Jimmyjane, a manufacturer of beautifully designed, life-changing toys that might end up making your human partner jealous.

6) Have More Green in Bed

When it comes to your mattress, there's more to fear than the errant bedbug. Conventional mattresses are doused in a blend of toxic chemicals that seep into your lungs and irritate your skin. A queen-sized innerspring mattress contains about one-and-a-half pounds of chemicals. Since we spend approximately three-thousand hours a year sleeping and sexing in our beds, a green mattress is one of the best investments an ecosexual can make. Natural latex is an excellent alternative for those that dig all things Tempurpedic, but don't want the toxins. Latex is a sustainable substance that has the same give as memory foam, without the bad stuff. Make sure you go to a trusted dealer (like Scott Jordan). If you're not into latex, try organic cotton, hemp, soy blends, or beds made from castor beans. Try savvyrest.com and sleepworks.com for more information on green bedding.

Readers - who's the sexiest environmentalist alive? Email submissions@nerve.com with your pick and why, for a chance to win a copy of Eco-Sex: Go Green Between the Sheets and Make Your Love Life Sustainable by Stefanie Iris Weiss.

Stefanie Iris Weiss is the author of Eco-Sex: Go Green Between the Sheets and Make Your Love Life Sustainable (Random House/Ten Speed Press, March 2010) and eight other books. A regular contributor to Elle UK, she has written for Teen Vogue, Marie Claire, Ellegirl.com, Elle Japon, Elle Netherlands, Zink Magazine and more. Stefanie keeps her carbon footprint small in New York City. You can follow Stephanie via her blog, Twitter, or Facebook.

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